The rise of drug alternatives also shows how consumers are increasingly prioritizing health-related concerns. More awareness about skin cancers may partly explain the fast growth in the self-tanning products sector. In fact, the industry is slated to increase its revenue by another 18 percent this year, IBIS reports.

Environmental concerns have also emerged as a major economic motivator. And subsequent worries over the country's dependency on fossil fuels has had lawmakers emphasizing energy alternatives. Subsidies from Obama's energy stimulus bill have helped green technologies sustain growth in the face of decreased European demand and competition from China. The $4.6 billion dollar industry of solar panel manufacturing leads the trend, according to IBIS.